Device for steadying cars



(No Model.) S. D. KING.

DEVICE FOR STEADYING CARS.

Patented m 7', 1889.

N PETER o-Ulhognphcr. Washinglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES.

"FFIcE;

PATENT DEVICE FOR STEADYING CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,676, dated May "1, 1889. Application filed February 5; 1889. Serial No. 298,761. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1', SIDNEY D. KING, of Pittston, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Steadying Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvementin lateral supports or steadying devices for cars.

The transportation of stock is always attended with more or less cruelty and injury, due to the swaying and rocking of cars as a train turns sharp curves or passes over uneven places in the track. As a result of this, there is a great deal of unnecessary suffering of the stock shipped, because they are thrown and jolted about from one side or end of the car to the other. Aside from a standpoint of humanity, however worthy this may be, from a purely business standpoint such treatment causes a decided depreciation in the value of the stock, owing to the injuries and bruises sustained during shipment.

It is the object of my present invention to prevent this unsteady rocking and tipping of the cars, and at the same time to provide a device which may be easily operated, and which will uncouple at any time the cars may pull apart without injury to the cars or the couplings.

lVith these ends in view my invent-ion consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

111 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my invention applied to the ends of two cars. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the swivel device. Figs. 4: and 5 are enlarged detached views.

A A represent the adjacent ends of two coupled cars. On these the arms I) b are pivoted by means of removable pins 0 c, extending through the loops d. As the arms of the different ends of the cars are somewhat different, they will be described separately. The arm I) terminates at its free end in a pair of j aws, e, in the ends of which the bearings f are formed. WVithin said bearings the trunnions g of the plate h are journaled. This plate is provided at its end with cheeks i, which abut and turn against the ends of jaws e. The inside of the plate is cut out to form a slot, j, and within the center of the latter the sleeve 71; is pivoted. On one edge of'the plate a thin circular disk, Z, is secured, so that its edges mark the line which the ends of the sleeve is take as the latter is turned within the slotted plate. Thus itisseen from the construction that the sleeve is not only turns to a limited extent within the slotted plate, but alsothat the plate itself may turn between the jaws of the arm b.

The main portion of the arm I) is very similar to that of arm b; but there are changes in the construction of the coupling. This arm, instead of having jaws formed at its end, terminates in a tongue, m, which is adapted to enter the sleeve is loosely and just pass through it. Over this tongue between ears n a latch, 0, is pivoted, and a spring, 10, beneath one end of this latch holds it in its proper position. This end is provided with a handle, g, which projects down in position to be easily operated. The opposite end of this latch terminates in a nose, 0, which extends-down in contact with the end of the tongue at.

The parts are coupled by raising the arms Z) Z) first to an angle of about forty-five degrees, or to such an angle as is necessary. The handle q of the latch is then depressed, thus removing the nose 4" from the end of the tongue at and allowing the tongue to enter the sleeve 70. The latch is then released and it drops down against the disk Z, with its nose just having clearance at the end of the sleeve, tongue, and disk. With the parts assembled in this manner, the lateral movement of the cars will be very slight indeed, as they are all heldtogeth er, and of course the only noticeable move ment will be where all sway together.

Attention should also be called to the fact that owing tothe swivel-connection of the sleeve k within the jaws e the cars are permitted to turn curves with the utmost ease, owing to the formation of this joint, or, to be more accurate, to the pivotal connection of the sleeve 70.

Another noticeable feature is that assoon ICO as the cars are uncoupled and pull apart, the arms I) Z), which heretofore have been held up obliquely, drop down to a horizontal position against the crotch t, where the j aws e join, elevate the latch above the disk I, and allow the parts to separate and be pulled apart.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my'invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A steadying device for cars, consisting of a pair of arms having a swivelconnection constructed to permit them-to be 'separatedwhen longitudinal strain is exerted thereon and prevent lateral vibration.

2. The combination, with a pair of arms and a swivel device supported in one arm, of a latch adapted to lockthe other arm to the swivel device, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a pair of pivoted arms and a swivel-sleeve in one of thearms, of a tongue projecting-from theother arm adapted to enter the sleeve, and a latch for locking the parts together against lateral separation, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a pair of pivoted arms, a slotted plate pivotally supported in one arm, and a sleeve pivoted in this plate, of a tongue projecting from the other arm adapted to enter the sleeve, and a pivoted springlatch having a nose thereon adapted to reach over the sleeve and end of the tongue, whereby the parts are held together against lateral separation, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a pair of arms removably pivoted to the ends of cars, one of said arms terminating in a pair of jaws, a slotted plate pivoted between said jaws, a sleeve pivote'dwithin the slotted plate, and a circular disk secured to the edge of the slotted plate, of a tongue projecting from one arm adapted to enter the'sleeve, and a pivoted spring-latch having a 'dependin'g-nose'thereon adapted to reach over'the-sleeve and end of the tongue, whereby theparts are held together against lateral separation, substantially as set forth.

In testi'monywhereof I have signed this specification'in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SIDNEY D. KING.

Vfitnesses:

Gno. B. DAVIDSON, CLARENCE E. LATHROP. 

